His Holiness Karekin II Receives Prominent French Armenian Artist Jeansem
On April 24, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received the prominent French Armenian Artist Jeansem (Jean Semerdjian). The artist visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on the occasion of the commemoration day of the Armenian Genocide, and was accompanied by members of his family. Jeansem was escorted by Mr. Edward Nalbandian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to France.
Earlier in the day, His Holiness had viewed Jeansem?s works on display in the Museum of the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan. His Holiness greeted the guests, and expressed his admiration of the distinguished artist, whose paintings evoked great emotion for all who attended the viewing.
During the meeting, His Holiness commissioned the artist to prepare a new altar painting, depicting the Holy Mother of God and the Infant Jesus, as is traditional in Armenian Churches throughout the world.
Jeansem stated that he was honored at the request, and noting that this new undertaking will be challenging, pledged to spare no effort to insure that the resulting work of art would be deemed a success by the Armenian Faithful.
